Download Veeco Nanoman Atomic Force Microscope

Atomic Force Microscope
(Veeco Nanoman)
User Manual – Basic Operation
4th Edition Aug 2012 NR
System Startup
• If the system is currently ON
• To start the NanoScope software, double-click the
NanoScope startup icon on the desktop.
• From the Menu Bar select:
• File > Open Workspace
• You now can choose the operating mode. Choose
TappingMode by selecting:
• Tapping in Air NRF.wks
• Click on Scan-Dual
• IF THE SYSTEM IS OFF, CALL 5-7640
Mounting the Probe
• Select the appropriate probe
• TappingMode (Si crystal probe, OTESPA
or FESP)
In-air Probe Holder
• Mount the probe in the correct holder
• Select an In-air probe holder
• Place the holder in a docking station
of the cantilever installation
fixture and secure the probe in
the groove with the spring clip
In-air Probe Holder
Docking Station
Liquid Cell
Docking Station
Loading Probe to AFM Head
• Fully tighten the dovetail knob (rotate clockwise)
• Lift the AFM head out of the dovetail groove
• Place the tip holder completely onto the four
pins on the base
• Replace the AFM head into the dovetail grove
• Lock the AFM head by releasing the dovetail
knob (rotate counter clockwise)
Locate Tip
• Verify that a tip is installed in the probe tip holder,
then select Tools > Stage > Locate Tip or use
the icon:
• The screen will display a caution indicating that
the microscope objective is in motion
Locate Tip – Continued
• Adjust illumination to 100%
• Zoom Out with the arrow
• Move the tip until it comes
focus using the Optics arrows
• You can change the focus speed
by selecting S (slow) or M (med)
• Move the tip to the center of the
crosshairs with the X-Y knobs to
the left of the optics
• Press OK
into
Aligning the Laser to the Cantilever
• Set illumination to 0%. Place a piece of white
paper below the AFM head on the chuck.
• Use the X – Y laser control knobs located on top
of the AFM head to move the laser spot inside the
illumination spot.
•
•
•
•
Turn the right-rear laser control knob until
the spot begins to disappear (1)
Turn the front left laser control knob until
the beam crosses the cantilever and a shadow appears in over
the laser spot below (2)
Turn the rear right laser control knob until the laser crosses the
tip end and appears on the surface below, back it up until the
laser spot just disappears from the surface below (3)
Verify Signal Sum is 4 V – 6 V
Adjust the Photodetector
• Use the two photodetector adjustment
knobs on the left side of the AFM
head to adjust the laser spot to the
center of the photodetector.
• Center reflected laser light in the
Laser spot
viewing window on the AFM head.
• Adjust the Vertical Deflection to 0 V
Mounting the Sample
• There are two ways to mount a sample, by:
• vacuum
• magnetic stage
Vacuum ON/OFF
• Mounting on the chuck by vacuum
• Take out screws
• Place sample over holes
• Turn vacuum ON
Screws
• Mounting on a magnetic stage
• Place the magnetic stage on the chuck
• Mount the sample on the puck
• Set the puck on top of the magnetic stage
Loading the Sample Under AFM Head
A larger amount of clearance is required for both the magnetic
sample stage and the liquid cell tip holder
• Ensure that the clearance between the bottom of
the AFM head and sample is large
• Move the Z position of the AFM head to its
highest point by clicking the Withdraw icon
several times
• Very carefully turn the chuck to move the sample
under the AFM head
Focus Surface
• Select Tools > Stage > Focus Surface or click
the Focus Surface icon
• Before continuing, check the clearance between
the base of the AFM head and the sample
• To focus on the surface, move the AFM head down
~ 2mm above the sample by using the Z Motor arrows
• IMPORTANT: Use speed set to S
Focus Surface Continued
• In the Focus On box, choose either Surface or
Tip Reflection
• If the sample is very flat or reflective, choose Tip
Reflection
• Note: You may need to adjust illumination and zoom to
clearly see the probe
Optional: Visible Laser Alignment w/ CCD
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adjust illumination to <25%
Laser should now be visible in video screen
(works best with reflective samples)
Adjust laser alignment knobs moving
laser directly over tip
Pay attention to both location of laser
Signal Sum value
Adjust Vertical Deflections back 0V
Increase illumination to 100%
Cantilever Tune – TappingMode
• Select Cantilever Tune from the RealTime >
Cantilever Tune pop-down menu, or click the
Cantilever Tune icon
• Set the AUTO TUNE parameters
Tip
FESP
OTESPA
End Frequency
100 kHz
500 kHz
• Click on Auto Tune
• Click on Zero Phase
• Click on Exit when done
Engage Tip – TappingMode
• First, in the Scan Controls panel, set
the following:
•
•
•
Initial Scan Size is set to 1µm or
a small scan size initially
X and Y Offsets are set to 0
Scan Angle is set to 0
• Under Feedback Controls panel,
set the following:
•
•
•
•
Set point is set to 0V
Integral Gain is set to 2.0
Proportional Gain is set to 3.0
Scan Rate is set to 1Hz
Select RealTime > Engage
or select the Engage icon
Scanning
• To ensure we have true engagement:
• Increase the tip-surface interaction by decreasing the
value of Amplitude Setpoint
• Make sure that the Trace and Retrace lines overlap each
other
• Image capture times depend primarily on the number of
data points captured and on scan speed.
Optimizing Scanning
• To ensure we have the best image we need to
optimize settings such that trace and retrace
overlap as shown:
Optimal Scan Signal
• First Step - Increase the tip-surface interaction by
decreasing the value of Amplitude Setpoint
Optimizing Scanning
• Additional adjustments may be made:
• Second Step – Scan Rate may be too high.
•
For publications use slower scan rates
• Third Step – Adjust Integral and Proportional
Gain. If Integral gain is too low or too high you will have
the following signatures in the signal:
Integral Gain Too High
Integral Gain Too Low
Capture Images
• Create a file name under RealTime > Capture
Filename
• Click on the Capture icon
• Check the capture status in the bar at the lower
right corner of the screen
• Capture Options
• To capture the image in the middle of a scan
RealTime > Capture Now, or
• Capture the previously scanned image
RealTime > Capture Before, or Ctrl + B
• Cancel Capture
Analyze Images
• Once an image is captured, double-click on it in
the browser
• Click the height image (Channel 1) to select it
• Remove all tilt and scan line errata from the
image by selecting Analyze > Flatten
• Set the Flatten Order parameter in the input box to 1st
• Go to the display window and draw a stop band box over
the pit as shown
• Execute
• Repeat for Ch 2
Shutting Down
• Click on the Withdraw icon
• Do this several more times or use the UP arrow to
make sure there is enough clearance between the
bottom of the head and the sample
• Remove the sample from the chuck
• Remove the tip holder from the head
• Loosen the AFM head with the dovetail knob
• Lift the AFM head out of the dovetail groove
• Remove the tip holder, pulling it straight off the
AFM head
Shutting Down – Continued
• Replace the AFM head in the dovetail groove
• Tighten the AFM head with the dovetail knob
• Quit the software without saving changes to the
workspace file